Well, since I gasped out loud when I read the question, I guess you know what my answer is...WOW, tacky!  I'm more of the do good works for the sake of doing good than flashing it around for business, so it doesn't sit right with me, anyway.  

With that said, if they were offering 100% of their commission for a certain period of time, maybe I would be somewhat impressed... ;-)

A time and place for every thing.  That may be an example of the wrong time and strategy.  

CLASSLESS - that's what that is!

I totally agree with Kat Palmiotti on this issue.

Tacky, tacky, tacky. Nothing wrong with donating some of your commision on each sale, but conditional? Nope.

If an agent wants to make a donation to a charity of any kind, they should just do it. And in fact, in my opinion, it means more when no one knows about it. 

Desperate agents do desperate things.

I have seen this before, but I am not sure it is legal.  I do't think it is an issue but I personally think it is bad taste and shows lack of Professionalism.

I find it TACKY

I am not really a fan of tying charity to advertising business ever actually.  -Kasey

For me it is not OK.

Tacky x 3

Nope. A donation does not have conditions attached. Opportunistic. Classless. Unprofessional. just my humble opinion.

I think that method of "advertising" shows you the character of the agent.  Unless the "donation" is to the Buyer, I can't see the Buyer thinking this is attractive to them. 

I agree with William Feela.

Clueless about branding, even more clueless about charity. 

They should take some lessons from the Mexican bakery in Houston; 

The bakers and workers were all stuck in the bakery. Instead of being negative about their circumstances, they decided since they had flour and supplies to start baking lots of bread with what they had. Then they had it picked up to bring to those in need. 

And the Pizza Hut in Sugarland: they baked as many pizzas as they could, then took kayaks and went through all the flooded streets to feed people who were stuck, etc. 

If the agents want to really help- then learn from these examples and creates a way of giving that is really helping. 

so distasteful.....there are some who will do anything and everything to secure a listing.... terrible....

I would not be doing this - no way.

Chris Lima Definitely in poor taste to use a disaster situation to obtain business.

I don't this is a good way to promote yourself now.  There are so many suffering people that making a donation to help contingent upon a listing or sale is inappropriate. 

I'm with you, very tacky. Even worse if it's like $25.

Buying listings is tacky in my book. Donate all you want but do it quietly 

I would never do that but when I give I am very private and consider it a personal thing. 

 That is low, very low.

It is VERY tacky. I would not stoop to that ever

I think that's a cheesy approach.  Others have said, classless, tacky, poor taste, carcass feeding, desperate, unprofessional.. well , that about sums it up.

That agent may lose existing clients over this.

Very tacky!

I'm with Mary Yonkers on this on

It will backfire. It is like those who suddenly find religion, but only when needed. It too will pass.

I could not respond any differently than Susan Haughton - how low can some people go. Let's do the real estate limbo now .... NOT!!!

Beyond Tacky!!

Agents aren't the only ones.  Many people are selling shirts and products and donating a percentage of sales.  I don't see what that agent is doing as any different.

Absolutely not!  It is so unprofessional and distasteful in so many ways. Almost like handing out cards in a funeral home.

Donating is a good idea. Making it conditional is definitely a bad strategy. It is all in the approach. 

To me, it's a bit shady.

Michael Jacobs nailed this one!

It's distasteful, but it's not uncommon to see companies offer to donate part of their profit to a charity.

I agree with you.

Have to say, that would 'not' be me Chris Lima, promoting my business in that manner.  It's like 'having an agenda', even though you are trying to work with buyers or sellers.  The amount of the donation means nothing to me. 

I don't think this is the time for advertising.

No, it's not ok.

I'm not a fan of "public" charity. If you really want to help out, help out. 

Nothing wrong with announcing that you donated or contributed in any way, but even better if you do it silently. 

I just posted a post about it, and partially it was related to what you refer too: PR on disasters: 

''You never haven't lived until you've done something for someone who can never repay you,'' ~ Wyn Ray. 

I see your point however a donation does help people in need...

Chris Lima - My rule is - Donations should not be conditional! 

For a good cause every body is doing it.

realtor association, realtors. safeway why not?

Tacky, shameless and shady seems to be common adjectives used in the comments. Let me add disgraceful and unbecoming of real estate agent.

I would not do this.

I find the entire concept atrocious. No wonder so many in the public think we are only about collecting our commissions!

Wow. That a real headline? Tacky would be a mild word. Incomprehensible maybe. I can think of many more, none of which I could print here. OMG!

That is a good question. Where do you draw the line?

I would like to have the color pink back, but it has been hijacked by a charitable (?) outfit and nearly every national brand has capitulated.

Back in the short sale days, I offered to pay moving costs for those who listed. That could have been construed as opportunistic.

Those who give me a referral are rewarded for their good behavior.

In the instance you mention, the buyer or seller is not benefited by giving to the Red Cross. However, it DOES communicate that THIS agent is suggesting they will INCREASE their giving to make our society more caring and helpful. I find not fault with that message. Some citizens will like that message.

I would love to read responses from AR members regarding, "What are you doing?"

My suggestion to those who have no idea what to do is visit the nearest Hospice and help those  who exist in such distress to prep their home for the coming calamity.

That's certainly a new twist for real estate. Wonder if it works for them? Many businesses actually do a form of it by donating a portion of their proceeds if you buy a thing. And they advertise that!

No way. Those people have suffered enough. Time to give without any strings attached.

I am not a fan of that way of doing business but it works.

I wouldn't do that at all.. one thing to offer donations to charities or community and civic groups but not during or just after and emergency

No, and if I was a prospective client, I wouldn't  be impressed.

Hi Chris, may I ask which facebook group you're talking about?

OH MY, that is being a bit heartless.   I would say, it isn't just you.....